Verona Murphy

Time is up, Deputy.

Amendments Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, are related and will be discussed together.

Amendments Nos. 6 and 7 are related and may discussed together by agreement.

I think so.

Amendments Nos. 6 and 7.

That probably should have happened before the final remarks. I apologise to the Minister of State and Deputies.

I welcome the group in the Gallery. I extend a warm welcome to Oswaldo Betancort, president of Cabildo of Lanzarote, and his delegation from Lanzarote, an island with which the Irish people have a long-lasting friendship. The delegation is led by former Senator Catherine Noone, who is also in the Gallery. They are all welcome.

The Bill will be sent to the Seanad.

If I could just introduce the Leas-Cheann Comhairle’s family, as he said, his long-suffering wife, Margaret, his son, Andrew, and some family friends, Sandra Thomas, Mary Keely and Joe Malone, intern, Ewan Morris, and John's other long-suffering wife, parliamentary assistant Muireann O’Neill. It is an honour for me to be the first to congratulate our Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I want to assure John t…

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding special education provision. On Tuesday, 18 February 2025, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding the housing crisis. On Wednesday, 19 February 2025, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 80(2), that division must be taken now.

Before we commence business, I want to mention briefly an issue that arose last week out of exchanges between the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition in order to avoid any further disorder today. I preface my remarks by saying my overriding consideration in dealing with this is to maintain the efficient running of the House. We need to get on with the business of administering the affairs o…

We now move on, Deputy.

Thank you Deputy.

Deputy, immediately I am going to-----

Deputy, please resume your seat.

I am standing. Out of respect for the Chair, when I stand all Deputies resume-----

I have one sentence and I move to Leaders' Questions and if it is not taken up I will move to the next leader's questions. You are quite entitled, Deputy McDonald, to bring a motion. If you are not happy with what I have just said in my ruling you are fully entitled to bring a motion under Salient Ruling 403. I am now moving to Leaders' Questions.

I move now to Deputy McDonald-----

-----to take Leaders' Questions.

No Taoiseach. Thank you.

I call Deputy McDonald. Taoiseach, please.

Deputy McDonald on Leaders' Questions.

Thank you. We resume the business of the House.

Taoiseach, please.